Improvement in hand and foot plates for swimming



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R.. H. W. DUNLOP.

HAND AND FOOT-PLATES FOR SWIMMING. No.183,045. Patented 0ct.10.1876.

R. H. W. DUNLOP.

HAND AND FOOT-PLATES For. SWIMMING.

.Patented 0ot.10.1876.

FIG- ./l.

3 shuts-Shen 3. R. H. W. DUNLOP.

HAND AND FGQT-1 LATES Fon SWIMMING. No.183.045. Patented ow.. 1o. 187e.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT H. W. DUNLOP, OF KENT GARDENS, EALING, ENGLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN HAND AND FOOT PLATES FOR SWIMMING.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 183,045, dated October 10, 1876; application filed June 23, 1876.

To ali whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT HENRY WAL- LAGE DUNLOP, of Kent Gardens, Ealing, in the county of Middlesex, England, O. B., have invented new and useful Improvements in Means or Apparatus for Aiding Human Locomotion in the Water, which improvements are fully set forth in the following specification,

reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

I construct the hand-plates with concave or recessed edges Where the wrist comes in swimming, and the foot plates or iippers have a similar recess at the portion coming at the hollow of the foot beneath the instep, the 0bject being to equalize the arca of resistance around the portion ofthe plate against which the power of the hand or foot is principally exerted, thereby lesseniug the leverage upon the hand or foot, and allowing the plates or liip pers to be used with great freedom. The edges of the plates are beveled, and the gen eral outlines are heart shape, so that there Will he uo risk of injury to the person using the same, and the plates are guided and manipulated in the Water with greater facility than the paddles heretofore employed.

Having experimented in the subject of apparatus and appliances for swimming and diving for some years, I have so far found that, owing to the complexity of human action in Swimming, hinged, jointed, and umbrellashaped tins or webs-in short, all collapsing appliancesare unmanageable and comparatively worthless, and my present invention does not comprise any such appliances.

Figure 1 ofthe accompanying drawings is a plan of a cordate hand-plate, and Fig. lisaside View of same. Such a hand-plate of medium size may conveniently be formed of beech, birch, oak, cedar, mahogany, or other strong and evengrained wood. The edges ofthe upperi'rontand lower rear side are beveled, as shown at Fig. 1". There are two slots eut through it about four inches apart, and I pass a buckled strap through it, as shown, and I pass the four fingers and their knuckles through this strap, and thus obtain perfect command ofthe plates. (See Figs. 6 and 7.)

Fig. is a plan, and Fig. 2a a side view, of a beaver-tail hand-plate. When the strap shown in dotted lilies is used in this one-that is, for the right handthe appliance becomes a flipper, the pressure being out of the center line.

Fig. 3 is a plan, and Fig. 3a a cross-section through line A B, of a hand-iiipper of a heart shape, and tapering off to one side in thickness, as is seen in Fig. 3f".

Fig. 4 is a plan, and Fig. 1 a vertical section through U D,ot'acordate hund-plate of sheetbrass or other suitable material shelled tllat is, following in front and rear the convex curve ot' a thick plate.

Fig. is a plan, and Fig. 5 a section through E F, of a large beaventail hand-plate for racing, or when extra speed is desired. Slots may be made at o e for a subsidiary strap, which also serves for carrying the plate by when the hand is released.

Figs. 6 and 7 show side view and planthatis,showingmaximum und minimum resistance ot' beaver-tail hand-plates attached to the hand.

Figs. 8 and 9 are also side view and plan or miniinuinand maximum resistance views of foot-plates attached to the foot.

Fig. 10 is a plan, and Fig. 10l a cross-section through line Gr H, of a heart-shaped footpliltc for the right i'oot fitted with ii\stc1rstiap,toe pieces, and doubleporpolse lace for the heel. I prefer this shape i'or toot-plates. The ventricle on the right or outer Wing or side is preterably larger than that on the left or inner side, as shown. The bevels, owing to the eX- tra thickness, become varied into curves, leading the plate on the lines it should follow in the turnings from stroke to recover-5" and from recovery to strolre, and are suited alike for hre-ast or for back action.

The double-porpoise lace shown at the heelgap, (also shown at Fig. l2) is used to prevent the plate from slipping off the foot. This luce passes round the tendon Achilles, which is protected by the tail of un anlilet, on which are two hice-hooks, as shown in Figs. 8, 9, and 13. This leaves the heel free to move, the lace running easily in the hooks. A strap would not here be so suitable, as it would bind by friction, and thus hinder the free play ot' the attachment passing round the heel.

Fig. 11 is a plan, showing' under side7 and Fig. 11 a cross-section through J K, of au ordinaly cordate l'ootplate or flipper t'or the lel't. loot. lt is tilted with a narrow beading, I), ot' iinlia-rnbber o1 other suitable sott material` alone; the outer edge, to prevent iniury in ease ol'aecidentally hitting another swimmer therewith.

Fig'. 12 is plan ot' nnder side, Fig. 12 plan ot' upper side, Fie'. l2" a cross-section through L M, and File'. 12 a central section through N O, ot" a loot-tlipper made ot' canvas indiarubber, mounted on a core ot' wood or other hard or stit' material, the said core being` cut ont in the middle, as shown in dotted lilies at Fig.12 and in the sectional views 12" and 12C. The india-rubber piece a strengthens the rest or sole for the foot ot' the swimmer. The part bserves to strengthen the upper or slipper part of the appliance, which is there made open, and to lace on, the lace passing,` through laeeholes. rlhe indiarubber may also be molded in one single piece onto the core ot' wood or other hard or stili' material.

Fig. 13 shows an anklet, and Fig. 9 shows it attached to the ankle ot' the foot.

Fig. 14. shows a h'sh-tail hand-plate ot' nitrocellulose, and Fig. 14 a section otsame.

Fig'. l5 shows a blank ot" nitrocellulose, from which either toot or hand ippers are made, and Fig'. 15 is a section ot' same.

Fig. 1U shows a substitute in sheet-brass, whalebone,and rarnished holland, when nitrocellulose is not procnrable.

l*`i;;;.17 shows a similar View with foot-plate attachment.

Hand-plates may, in all cases, itdesired, be made with alternative central and diagonal slots for use as hand-plates or hand-tlippers. With the former no alteration is requisite in changing' from breast to haelt action. ln the latter easethat is. with the. tlipper-inore elasticity is obtained, but at the expense of power, and the plates should be. reversed in changing' l'roin breast to bach action.

The angle trarersahle by the wristjoint is about one hundred and eie'lty degrees, and the hereinbetin'e-deseribed simple` attachment gives perl'ect coinniand ot' the hand-plate, but, owing' to the shorter traverse ol4 the anhlejoint, it becomes necessary to utilize the additional instep-joints. attaching' the plates to the t'ore part ol' the t'oot, and leaving the heel treo to obtain even ninetv degrees ot' play t`or the plate. l also scoop out beds tor the soles ot the feet, and when an)v deticienoy of suppleness` exists, I sinl; the balls otl the t'eet and great toes in the plates, to at'ord the neeessary tilt t'or presenting plate edgewise to the water darin.;` recovery.

l claim as my inventionl. A swimming-plate ot' au elliptical or heart shape, with one end recessed, and with the edges beveled, substantially as and tor the purposes set l`orth.

2. A toot plate or llipper for swimming having a recess at` one end, and with means tor attaching such plate to the foot with the recessed portion at the hollow beneath the iu step, substantially as set forth.

i. H. \V. DUNLOP.

Witnesses:

Taos. J. GooDwiN.

37 Curseler Street, O/mneery Lune, Londen, L'. C., Clerk to Henry Charles Coole, of suine place, Notary Public.

EDWD. Lns'ro'r'r,

Also Clerk to Mr. Cuota. 

